The Government will activate the emergency declaration mechanism to fast-track funds for rebuilding kilometre 318 on the Madrid-Sevilla high-speed line, the site of the rail crash on 18 January. The incident claimed 45 lives after an Iryo train derailed, followed by a collision with a Renfe Alvia.
Rail traffic is currently suspended between Villanueva de Córdoba and Córdoba, blocking long-distance services from reaching the Andalusian city from Madrid.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced on X that the Montoro judge has greenlit the works, to be overseen by Adif Alta Velocidad.
The infrastructure is slated to be back in service within about ten days, pushing service resumption past the initial 2 February target.
The emergency declaration, under article 120 of the Public Sector Contracts Law, enables urgent works without standard tender processes—as seen in 2024 for repairing flood-damaged infrastructure from the Valencia DANA.
Judicial approval follows the Civil Guard wrapping up evidence collection. The probe continues under their lead and the Railway Accident Investigation Commission (CIAF). Puente is due to brief the Senate this Thursday on the smash.